Crystal River current., 1887-03-12
EGYPTIAN LuxuR,es.
Delicious Coffee from an leland in
the Mediterranean sea-Smok-
ing q NarUhfleh.

the Mediterranean sea-smok-
ing a Narghileh.
An Alexandria correspondent, writ
ing to The Detroit Free Press. says:
Inquiry into the method of preparing
the delicious coffee of Egypt-coffee
served in minute cups. even smaller
than the after-dinner coffee cups of
France and of the same straight-sided
shape-brought to light the following
facts:
First the coffee should be pure
Mocha from the LITTLE island SO near out
in the Mediterranean, and, by the way.
it is almost impossible to get the real
article since it is all engag ed years
ahead Then the coffee is ground as
fine as flour. Next. small amount of
the coffee and the necessary amount of
sugar is put into brass or copper ves-
sci shaped exactly like an ordin ary
baby's tin-rattle. with the cover tax en-
off one of the feet ends. The cup thus
formed and containing the mixture of
coffee and sugar is filled nearly full of
water and is held by the handle over
the fire until the coffee boils; then it is
withdrawn and allowed to cool q mo-
ment, and is then held over the fire and
the coffee allowed to come to boil
again; once more it is cooled and after
the coffee comes to a boil the third time
it is ready and is poured into the little
cups. The brass coffee boiler general
ly holds enough for two cups, though
larger ones are sometimes used, some
holding four cupfuls. The liquid is
thick and browuisll-back. with light
colored froth on the top, and it is deli
cious. After the coffee is drank. at the
bottom of the cup remains about three
teaspoonfuls of sediment that is like
thick mud and is the coffee deposit.
This coffee and glass of water and an
amber mouthp ece on the end of the
ten-foot long. tlex bic stem of the
narghileh are the sights above the
tables in all directions, and searching
below, we find scattered around the
glass vessels half filled with water. to
which the snaky stem may be traced.
1t is decidedly lazy mans smoke.
as the tobacco is very mild and half
an hour is required to get half smoke,
and how long pipe will last no one
knows. An hour and half is as long
as 1 ever smoked on one, and then it
was putting away better than ever. 1t
may take an inveterate smoker to en-
JOY one of these water pipes but when
the inveterate does get one he obtains
a real treat after he gets the hang of it
and does not re himself out drawing
too hard. Smoking a narghileh differs
from other kinds of smoking in that the
smoke all goes through the water be-
low and is thus purified and also in the
method. because in place of short puffs
is substituted deep breath, and the
smoke is taken into the lungs. 1t is
not possible to smoke the narghileh as
a pipe is smoked, so that those fearing
to inhalc tobacco should never attack
this water pipe, also called the ''hub-
ble-bubble." which seems very good
name. and appropriate. too. as it ex-
presses the noise made by the separate
bubble as they rise to the surface of the
water from the bottom of the vertical
pipe that leads up from the tobacco.
The natives take their coffee and
strong pull at this pipe, which is reg
ular piece of furniture. as soon as they
at it all day, too. They claim, also.
that the narghileh is good for colds.
and they deserve credit for having
found an agreeable thing that is good
for any ailment, and that will replace
fried onions around the neck of the un-
fortunate soul with the cold.
The cafe is as great an institution
with the people of the Orient as it is
with the French. and the warm climate
makes the shaded outdoor stables the
popular ones, and they are crowded all
dav. whether along the Mohammed
Ali square and in the crowded business
places or in the back alley ways where
the visitors sit or reel ne on cane-bot-
toned lounges and meditativly draw
these men get a living is a mystery, as
thousands of them seem to do nothing
all day but drink coffee and smoke.
The shoemaker in his little 1Ox1O store
smokes his narghiIeh while waiting for
a customer. The thing is as necessary
to an Egyptian as his hat, and possible
more so; and the comfortable exression
on the face of one of these smoking is